Member Profile: Craig Tomera

Chicago native Craig Tomera has worked in agriculture for 50 years despite not growing up in the traditional “agriculture world.” He quickly found his passion for the outdoors through working in his family’s garden and working for a small vegetable farmer near his home.  

“I always liked being outside,” Tomera said. “Even in high school and part of my undergraduate studies, I worked summer jobs indoors, but I knew that wasn’t what I wanted long term.” 

This interest led him to Illinois State University, where he double majored in agricultural business and agronomy. After graduation, Tomera spent 10 years in the fertilizer industry and moved into crop consulting.  

Still eager for information, Tomera then went back to the University of Illinois for a master’s degree in agronomy. He then took a leap and moved to Jackson, Minnesota, and for six years worked for Pioneer Seed as a production agronomist. Another position opened for him in Olivia, Minnesota, with what was once known as Precision Soya, now Remington Seed. This is where Tomera entered the world of identity preserved (IP) crops.  

Today, he is the IP crop specialist at Grain Millers, a role he has held since 2011. He primarily works with food-grade soybeans, corn and lentils. Covering southern Minnesota, eastern South Dakota, northern Iowa and western Wisconsin, he has built deep expertise and strong relationships in food-grade production and marketing.  

“With food-grade production, you know where that grain is going and how it’s being used,” Tomera said. “It’s not just a grain anymore, it’s a food ingredient.” 

This perspective continues to motivate him to this day. Tomera enjoys connecting with farmers and educating them on producing food-grade crops and finding markets where the grain can be used.  

“I am kind of an information hound,” Tomera said. “I like to keep learning and seeing new things.”  

This is Tomera’s first year serving as chair of the U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance’s IP Marketing Action Team but has previously served on both the Marketing Action team and a couple years on the Agronomy Action Team. 

“It is really nice to have an organization of like-minded businesses and associations that work hard to promote our business by having meetings and trips inviting foreign companies to the United States to see our business and how it can help them.” 

Tomera is confident that the future of IP will continue to grow as education evolves, and customers grow in eagerness of product traceability.